Manufacturing Engineer - Test Cells

Caterpillar Inc.; Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 98,000 - 146,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Paid time off

401(k) savings plans

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer 3 for the Lafayette Engine Center to support generator testing projects across 3500, C175 and 3600 platforms. The role focuses on process health, capability improvements, and reducing variation through continuous improvement initiatives.

Ideal candidate will lead key initiatives on New Product Introductions and related process changes, with strong emphasis on collaborative automation and lean manufacturing in a high-volume setting.

Qualifications

• Collaborative automation techniques and cobot deployment knowledge.
• Assess manual operations to identify cobot applications.
• Tests cobots to identify defects and ensure safe integration.
• Uses tools to model, develop and deploy cobots.

Responsibilities

• Identify and implement enhancements to manufacturing operations equipment and processes.
• Monitor equipment reliability and address problem areas.
• Provide supervision and development for operations technical staff and support areas.
• Lead engineering support for planning, development, operation, and maintenance of equipment, processes, or facilities.

Skills

Collaborative Automation

Cobot deployment

Problem Solving

Lean Manufacturing

Project Management

Education

Degree or Related Experience

Job description

Career Area:

Manufacturing

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you’rejoining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don’tjust talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

About LPSD

The Large Power Systems Division (LPSD) is part of Caterpillar’s Power & Energy segment. Through this global organization, Caterpillar designs and manufacture large (greater than 18 liters) diesel and natural gas engines, powertrains and key engine systems. LPSD products and solutions support customers across power generation, industrial, marine, oil & gas, rail, services and Cat® machine applications worldwide.

Job Summary

This position is for a Manufacturing Engineer 3 role focused on support of Generator Testing Projects across the Lafayette Engine Center. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in the testing of generator packages across 3500, C175 and 3600 Platforms.

This role will help lead key initiatives to help stabilize the process health, increase process capabilities, and reduce operational performance variation through the execution of continuous improvement projects. The selected candidate will serve as a key technical resource on Generator New Product Introductions and any related process changes.

What you will do

• Identifying and implementing enhancements and modifications to complex manufacturing operations equipment and processes.
  • Monitoring sophisticated equipment and process reliability; identifying and addressing problem areas.
  • Providing direct supervision, coaching and development for operations technical staff and support areas.
  • Leading engineering support on planning, development, operation, and maintenance of equipment, processes, or facilities.

Degree Requirement

Degree or Related Experience

What you will have

Collaborative Automation: Knowledge of techniques and processes of collaborative automation; ability to develop and deploy cobots to automate manufacturing processes.

Level Working Knowledge:

• Assesses manual operations to identify cobot applications.
• Implements cobots to improve ergonomics and safety of manufacturing operations.
• Performs cobot risk assessment to safely incorporate cobots in manufacturing operations.
• Tests cobots to identify and correct defects or anomalies.
• Uses appropriate tools, software, and programming techniques to model, develop and deploy cobots.

Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.

Level Working Knowledge:

• Applies an assigned technique for critical thinking in a decision-making process.
• Identifies, obtains, and organizes relevant data and ideas.
• Participates in documenting data, ideas, players, stakeholders, and processes.
• Recognizes, clarifies, and prioritizes concerns.
• Assists in assessing risks, benefits and consideration of alternatives.

Engineering - MFG: Knowledge of processes, techniques and methods of engineering in a manufacturing environment; ability to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems and processes that safely realize a desired objective or invention.

Level Working Knowledge:

• Assists in problem resolution, drafting and writing specifications for engineering practices.
• Works with basic, routine components of the engineering discipline in manufacturing.
• Performs basic installation, maintenance and repairs for a specific engineering function.
• Follows relevant standards, policies and practices in engineering operations.
• Reports unusual engineering issues and considerations regarding manufacturing operations to senior staff.

Lean Manufacturing: Knowledge of the philosophy, principles and implementation approaches of lean manufacturing; ability to integrate and implement lean manufacturing philosophy into existing production and management processes.

Level Working Knowledge:

• Discusses considerations for work cell design and effectiveness monitoring.
• Finds solution for key technical and people problems associated with transformation to lean.
• Explains issues and considerations of implementing lean in own function or area.
• Selects and utilizes tools, techniques and measurements associated with a lean assessment.
• Explains benchmarks and measures of effectiveness of lean.

Manufacturing Processes: Knowledge of existing product manufacturing methods, technologies and processes; ability to execute, plan, manage and monitor the entire manufacturing process.

Level Working Knowledge:

• Assess associated phases, activities, deliverables and processes.
• Documents relevant standards, policies and practices.
• Follows standard manufacturing processes to conduct production activities.
• Researches new technologies to be integrated into existing manufacturing process.
• Explains tools, techniques and documents used for process monitoring and control.

Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.

Level Working Knowledge:

• Identifies and documents specific problems and resolution alternatives.
• Examines a specific problem and understands the perspective of each involved stakeholder.
• Develops alternative techniques for assessing accuracy and relevance of information.
• Helps to analyze risks and benefits of alternative approaches and obtain decision on resolution.
• Uses fact-finding techniques and diagnostic tools to identify problems.

Project Management: Knowledge of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve project objectives.

Level Working Knowledge:

• Provides input for Gantt or PERT charts or their equivalent to track project progress and status.
• Under guidance, plans and estimates simple projects.
• Assists in detailed project plans including cost, schedule, and resource requirements.
• Obtains information from stakeholders during the planning stage of a project.
• Produces standard project status reports.

What will put you ahead

• Knowledge and Experience with Production Testing (Operations, Quality, Engineering)
• Test Cell Experience (Dyno Test Cell preferred)
• Experience reading and understanding electrical diagrams

Summary Pay Range:

$97,530.00 - $146,290.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location,job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits*
• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*
• 401(k) savings plans*
• Health Savings Account (HSA)*
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*
• Health Lifestyle Programs*
• Employee Assistance Program*
• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*
• Career Development*
• Incentive bonus*
• Disability benefits
• Life Insurance
• Parental leave
• Adoption benefits
• Tuition Reimbursement

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees

This position requires working onsite five days a week.

Relocation is available for this position.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Posting Dates:

October 5, 2026 - October 15, 2026

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.